Thursday, May 29, 2008

Blood is a strange thing. We used to joke that if you even have 1/16th of Maori blood, you can claim all the rights due. Which makes almost anyone eligible.

People with a prince for a great-great-great-grandfather, will still claim royal blood today, even if they live in the projects and work in a kebab shop. It seems the tenuous mixing of white and red plasma clamps a much more tenacious fist onto our psyche than we know.

Having so many different bloodlines and living in so many places means being able to identify with more than your share of cultures, people and beliefs. It also means you are more easily buffeted by the winds of fortune.

As children, we sat at home and cried when we watched the trains derail in india, killing thousands. We wrung our hands and felt divided and torn as we saw the ravages of the Falkland wars. We mutely withstood the sneers and jeers as 911 happened. We made our homes available to refugees during the tsunamis. We kept a vigil as bomb threats overtook Christmas in Germany and worried about each and every relative still remaining at home. We waited at airports to welcome and comfort each distant relative returned from a war-torn country.

We are far flung and stand with our feet on more than one shore. Crimson rivers have strewn the ground where we stood as we shed our blood to protect the land we call home ... even if it was only for a few decades. We have planted and harvested and given back to the land we made our fortunes in. We have silently made offerings and amends, because our actions may be misconstrued in these times of deep distrust and paranoid but understandable suspicion.

This morning, I read the latest criticisms hurled at someone trying to do his part for charity. It made a heart already sorely wrung even more fragile.

I have not said anything about the Sichuan earthquake thus far. It does not mean I do not feel it less, or more. It simple means that some sorrows run so deep that only tears can express the river of grief.

Perhaps only Agnes can understand that the silent sorrow whispers more thunderously than the shouts of lament and platitudes of words.

It is unfortunate that a man donated $100,000 to the Sichuan earthquake rescue efforts and was criticised. Why? Because he was Andy Lau.

The critics accused him of being stingy since he is such a big and successful celebrity and should and could have donated more. Quite right. How dare he?

I mean, he only headlined and headed many of the initiatives to aid the rescue work. He wrote two songs and galvanised his other celebrity mates to sing and record the songs to raise money towards the efforts. He also begged all his mates to donate $100,000 each and then led by example by openly donating that amount first. The $100,000 was also set as a standard so there would be no comparison between each donor, so as not to take away from the issue at hand. How ironic.

I am no Andy Lau fan. I do not have any strong positive or negative feelings towards the man. But I think it is such mean-spirited criticism that is crippling charity efforts today. In Korea, it is much the same. Celebrities do not even want to be associated with charity work as it will garner negative publicity with evil-minded individuals accusing them of using it as a public relations tool.

It is true that true charity should be done quietly and without expectations and for the good of the beneficiaries and no one else. However, one of the biggest tool a celebrity has is just that. Their celebrity. They know their mere appearance will inspire fans and groupies to copy their actions. It is why celebrity endorsements work so well.

It is a double edged sword. You help the charity when you use your celebrity. But you get shredded by the critics for being a publicity whore.

Perhaps that is Andy Lau's greatest sacrifice for the Sichuan earthquake victims. His reputation for their redemption.

Whatever his intentions, you cannot fault him for helping. Perhaps he did it because he is Chinese. Perhaps he did it because he has family and friends in Sichuan. Perhaps he did it because he just happens to like Sichuanese food. Or perhaps he did it because he is simply human.

Even if I disliked the lyrics to his song Promise, I will give a nod towards the man for silently bearing the criticism and not letting that deter or embitter him in his goal to lend a hand.

Rather, I prefer the lyrics, even if the melody is deplorable, of the song Never Apart, which was written specifically for the Sichuan victims. Sung by Jackie Chan, who really should not sing, and with the lyrics by Nan Shu, it is much more meaningful and profound. I apologise for my poor translation and can only hope Agnes can help me clean it up.

生死不離In life or death we will never be apart你的夢落在哪裡Even in the place where your dreams have fallen想著生活繼續Life will continue天空失去了美麗Even as the sky loses its beauty in darkness你卻等待夢在明天站起You're still waiting and hoping to stand up again 你的呼喊刻在我的血液裡And your cries are engraved in my blood

生死不離In life or death we will never be apart我數秒等你的消息I count the seconds as I await news of your return相信生命不息Holding on to the belief that life will never end與你祈禱一起呼吸I say a prayer with you, as I take each breathe with you我看不到你卻牽掛在心裡Although I cannot see you, I carry you deep in my heart 你的目光是我全部的意義To see your gaze means everything to me

無論你在哪裡No matter where you are我都要找到你I will find you血脈能創造奇蹟 生命是命題Our shared blood can create miracles, life is the eternal answer無論你在哪裡Wherever you are我都要找到你I will find you手拉著手 生死不離Hand in hand, we will never be apart

生死不離In life or death we are never be apart全世界都被沉寂The entire world is submerged in silent sorrow痛苦也不哭泣Tears unshed even in pain and sorrow愛是你的傳奇Love is your legacy彩虹在風雨後堅強升起The rainbow will rise in glory after the storm我在努力看到愛的力氣Our efforts will flourish from the power of love

無論你在哪裡No matter where you are我都要找到你I will find you血脈能創造奇蹟 生命是命題Our shared blood can create miracles, life is the eternal answer無論你在哪裡Wherever you are我都要找到你I will find you天裂了 去縫起The sky has been torn part, let us mend it together

你一絲希望是我全部的動力One thread of hope is all I need搭起我的手築成你回家的路基I raise my hands to form the road for your return home

無論你在哪裡No matter where you are我都要找到你I will find you血脈能創造奇蹟 生命是命題Our shared blood can create miracles, life is the eternal answer無論你在哪裡Wherever you are我都要找到你I will find you手拉著手 生死不離Hand in hand, we will never be apart

無論你在哪裡No matter where you are我都要找到你I will find you血脈能創造奇蹟 大山毅然舉起Our shared blood can create miracles, life is the eternal answer無論你在哪裡Wherever you are我都要找到你I will find you天裂了 去縫起The sky has been torn part, let us mend it together

手拉著手 生死不離Holding each other's hand, we will never part in life or death

On that note, some have taken the route of criticising China for its oft-times misguided policies and stands, leveraging unkind statements such as "retribution", "they deserve it", even discussing their population, education and human rights practices in light of the recent tragedy.

This is not the time to cast blame or to kick a dog when it's down. Whatever a nation's past crimes, real or alleged, a tragedy of this magnitude and sorrow should not be degraded or demeaned. Let us try to maintain some humanity and extend hearts and hands in good will instead of finger wagging.

Until their land is healed and their people can sleep in peace without tears on pillows ... we should not add to their grief.